First performed in December of 1892, The Nutcracker ballet is a timeless classic. Presented during the holiday every year, it has become a staple of the Christmas spirit. Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Marius Petipa, The Nutcracker Ballet was made with the intention of captivating audiences of all ages with different aspects of dance and music pieced together to create a magical story. Even centuries later, Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece has remained one of the best holiday traditions while also being the most famous ballet piece of all time. This classic tradition of yearly Nutcrackers has gathered many families together to celebrate the holidays.
The original premiere of The Nutcracker, which first took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, was not an immediate success. In fact, it was not until the first full American premiere in San Francisco in 1944, over 50 years later, that the ballet truly took off. This performance marked the show’s first large success in theater.
The tale is inspired by an E.T.A. Hoffmann fantasy story. It centers around a girl named Clara, who is gifted a nutcracker doll as a present from her uncle on Christmas Eve. That night, Clara drifts into a vivid dream in which her doll takes her into a magical world where toys and sweets come alive. However, it is not entirely peaceful. Clara’s dreamland and safety is threatened by the Mouse King and his army of mice. Luckily, the Nutcracker jumps to life at the last second, saving her. After the Nutcracker defeats the Mouse King in a duel, he and Clara continue their journey into the Land of Sweets. There they are welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy, who entertains them with dances performed by groups of sweets, each representing different cultures. As the performances come to an end, Clara wakes up from her dream with the Nutcracker doll next to her.
This upcoming holiday season will be yet another popular year for The Nutcracker. There are many ballet studios in proximity to Lower Merion that will be performing the show this year, including the famous Philadelphia Ballet. LM students who are a part of the Nutcracker this year go to local ballet studios such as the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Philadelphia Dance Academy, and Philadelphia Studio Ballet. Usually, Nutcracker rehearsals start around the end of August due to the amount of preparation that is necessary. Auditions, costumes, and choreography are very time consuming and each aspect requires careful planning.
The audition process for leads and roles takes place in the early stages of preparations. Auditions allow you to try out for the roles you want and to see which roles the directors think you’re best suited for. They are a great opportunity to show directors what you’re capable of but they can also be challenging. Sara Aagaard ’26, a ballerina involved in Philadelphia Dance Academy’s production of The Nutcracker, commented, “I find it very stressful when I’m auditioning because I definitely don’t perform as well as I can in class.” As stressful as they can be, auditions are a necessary evil in the process of putting together the show.
In preparation of the performance, ballerinas put in countless hours of weekly rehearsals over the course of 3 months. It takes a significant amount of time to perfect each variation and every ballerina will usually partake in two or more roles. The dancers have to dedicate a lot of time into performances every year, resulting in limited free time prior to the show dates. A performer from Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Madeline Dickson ’28, admitted “I love rehearsals but they can be tedious at times and it gets hard to balance school and dance as well.” The time commitment from rehearsals can be stressful due to conflicts with other priorities but it is needed in order to put on a great performance.
As it gets closer to the show dates, anticipation for performance for each dancer can vary. A dancer from Philadelphia Studio Ballet, Elsa Stuart ’26, emphasizes her “nerves of excitement” before she performs on stage. Aagaard said “Performing is stressful and exhilarating at the same time.” This is a sentiment shared by many dancers and throughout variations, dancers may also experience a sense of dread, fearing potential mistakes.
Overall, The Nutcracker is a magical experience for both dancers and audience members alike. From a ballerina’s perspective on performing, it’s a way to tell a story to the audience with just music and dance. “I really enjoy performing in The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is such an amazing production that I hope everyone has a chance to see.” comments Stuart. Dickson mentions “I love performing in The nutcracker, it’s such a classic.” So as the holiday season approaches this year, get your friends and family together to continue the holiday tradition of watching The Nutcracker!
